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T J. OHRI-STY; Whiffle'tree-Hook.

No. 223,482. I Patented Jan. 13., 1880.

Fig.2.

NJETERS. PHOKU-LITMOGRAPHEH. WASHINGTON D O UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. GHRISTY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

WHlFFLETREE-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 223,482, dated January 13, 1880.

Application filed June 21, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, THOMAS J. OHRIsTY, of the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain Improvements in Whiffletree Hooks or Locks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to certain improve men ts in that class of whiffletree books or looks in which a pivoted keeper is used for lockin g the trace in position, the keeper being capable of a quarter-turn, in one position readily allowing the trace-eye to be placed on or reinoved from it, and in the other position looking the trace securely in position on the Whittletree; and this invention consists in forming the said keeper with a recessed portion, which, when it is in its locked position, will lap around the pivot-stud and form a smooth and perfect bearing for the trace-eye.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a detail perspective view, illustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail top view, showing the device locked. Fig. 3 is a similar view, showing the device open, ready for attachment of the trace.

As shown in the drawings, A is the stud or bar projecting from the ends of the whiffletree B, the mode of attachment being any of the well-known means for effecting the same. This bar A is curved backward, and has a pivot-eye, a, on which is pivoted the bent keeper-piece O, which has a straight portion or horn, c, and a U-shaped wing, c, which wing is at right angles to the said horn 0, and surrounds the stud or bar A, as shown, and is sition being shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and the other in Fig. 3.

The manner of using the improved device is as follows: The keeper 0 is turned to the position shown in Fig. 3 and the trace-eye pushed over the horn 0. The operatorthen, by means of the horn, turns the keeper back to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, so as to lock the trace in place. In disengaging the trace it is only necessary to push the keeper, by means of its horn a, into the position shown in Fig. 3, when the trace can be readily and easily slipped off endwise from the same. When the trace is in position itrests on the wing portion 0 at a point forward of the pivotpoint, so that any strain on the trace will tend to more firmly hold the keeper in position.

It will be seen that by forming the portion 0 of the keeper (3 of a recessed or U-shaped form the same will form a smooth and perfect bearing for the trace-eye, and consequently the same will not wear as fast as were the keeper pivoted in a recessed portion ofthe pivot-stud, as in the ordinary construction.

I claim as my invention- In a whiffletree hook or look, the keepel piece 0, having a U-shapedwing, which surrounds the pivot-stud, and on which the traceeye bears, as and for the purpose set forth.

THOMAS J. GHRISTY.

Witnesses ROBERT BURNS, CHARLES PIOKLES. 

